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US House candidate who beat Sanford seriously hurt in wreck

FILE - In this June 12, 2018 file photo, South Carolina Rep.Katie Arrington, who is running for the first district of South Carolina, campaigns after voting for herself in the primary election at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville. Arrington who defeated U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford in his re-election bid has been seriously injured in a deadly wreck. Spokesman Michael Mule tells media outlets Arrington has undergone surgery for her injuries and was recovering Saturday, June 23, 2018, in a Charleston-area hospital. (Kathryn Ziesig/The Post And Courier via AP, File)

FILE - In this June 12, 2018 file photo, South Carolina Rep.Katie Arrington, who is running for the first district of South Carolina, campaigns after voting for herself in the primary election at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville. Arrington who defeated U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford in his re-election bid has been seriously injured in a deadly wreck. Spokesman Michael Mule tells media outlets Arrington has undergone surgery for her injuries and was recovering Saturday, June 23, 2018, in a Charleston-area hospital. (Kathryn Ziesig/The Post And Courier via AP, File)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina lawmaker who defeated U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford in his re-election bid was seriously injured in a vehicle crash on Friday and will require weeks of recovery and more procedures, a spokesman said.

State Rep. Katie Arrington underwent surgery for her injuries and was recovering Saturday at a Charleston-area hospital, Arrington spokesman Michael Mule said.

Arrington and a friend were traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 17 around 9 p.m. Friday when a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction hit their vehicle, according to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office

The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene, according to Sheriff's Capt. Roger Antonio. Officials are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death of 69-year-old Helen White of nearby Ravenel, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said in a statement.

The crash remains under investigation.

The driver of Arrington's vehicle, a friend identified as Jacqueline Goff of Mandeville, Louisiana, also sustained serious injuries.

Mule said the Summerville Republican sustained a back fracture, as well as several broken ribs, and underwent surgery to remove portions of her small intestine and colon.

Mule said Arrington would need more surgeries, as well as a stent to repair the partial collapse of the primary artery in her legs, and would need to stay in the hospital for two weeks. He told news outlets that Arrington was alert and talking Saturday morning.

"Katie asks for your continued prayers for the deceased and the deceased's family, as well as prayers for a quick recovery for Katie and her friend," Mule said in a statement.

Arrington, 47, defeated Sanford in a GOP primary earlier this month, repeatedly highlighting Sanford's criticism of President Donald Trump. The president himself weighed in hours before polls closed on Election Day to endorse Arrington and denounce Sanford as "nothing but trouble."

In a tweet Saturday, Trump said his "thoughts and prayers are with Representative Katie Arrington of South Carolina, including all of those involved in last nights car accident, and their families."

Sanford, a former South Carolina governor, had never lost an election before the June 12 congressional primary, even after a high-profile extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

Sanford posted a link to a story about the wreck on Twitter , adding in a post: "Our thoughts and prayers this morning go to Katie Arrington, her family and those involved in last night's automobile accident."

In a message posted to Twitter on Saturday, Democratic nominee Joe Cunningham said that he was suspending his campaign until further notice.

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Reach Kinnard at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP . Read her work at https://apnews.com/search/meg%20kinnard .